President and CEO of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts awarded TTG Asia’s Travel Personality of the Year.

Jean Gabriel Pérès, the President and CEO of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, has been chosen as ‘Travel Personality of the Year 2012’ in the influential TTG Asia Travel Awards.

The award is recognised as one of the ‘Oscars’ of the travel industry in Asia and Mr Pérès was selected for his “outstanding achievement in transforming Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts into an inspiring success story”.

“Together with his team, he has set an industry example of what having true passion and dedication to the industry, integrity to the brand and respect for people can do,” said the TTG Asia editorial team that chose Mr Pérès for the prestigious award. “One of the most inspiring aspects of this success story is Mr Pérès’s ability to find the right talent and motivate them to real breakthroughs.”

When Mr Pérès joined Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts in 1999 he inherited a portfolio of 36 hotels. Now there are 76. By 2015 he aims to have 100 properties open worldwide with more than half of the company’s 30 new hotels in development opening in Asia.

The Swiss upscale hospitality company currently manages two properties in Thailand, two in Vietnam and one each in the Philippines, India and Singapore, but in 2013 alone it will open new resorts in Pattaya, Thailand; Sanya, China; and the private island resort Huma Island Palawan in the Philippines. The renovated Mövenpick Resort & Spa Cebu and the historic Heritage Wing with 62 suites at the Mövenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa are to open later this year.

“I wish to share this award with our Middle East and Asia team, headed by Chief Operating Officer Andreas Mattmüller.” said Mr Pérès. “It is wonderful motivation for everyone as we expand throughout Asia.”

Mr Pérès has contributed significantly to the hospitality industry in Asia. Before leading Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, he was Le Méridien’s Managing Director for Asia Pacific where he played a key role establishing the group in the region.

“The TTG editorial team could not have picked a more deserving leader than Jean Gabriel Pérès for this award,” said Darren Ng, managing director, TTG Asia Media.

Mr Pérès added: “The award means a lot to me because I started my hospitality career in Asia and spent 12 very happy years here. I am looking forward to deepening my relationship with the region through the continued expansion of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.”